CATHOLIC CHARISTMATIC RENEWAL.
Get to know your Good Shepherd Prayer Group. (GSPG)
The GSPG was formed in 1980 with Mercy Fernandes as it’s leader. Currently the GSPG is led by Bijoy Dsilva. Our Vision is to renew every family of our Good Shepherd parish and our Mission is based on Jn12:24 “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. So our Mission is DIES, an acronym for Discipleship, Intercession, Evangelization and Scripture.
A closer inspection of the above will reveal that we have planned to achieve our Vision to renew every family and thereby every parishioner of Good Shepherd by living out our Mission by truly becoming disciples and not just fringe followers, by interceding for every family, by evangelizing and studying our scriptures so as to build on solid rock and not on sand. (especially more in this year of the Word)
Our prayer group is affiliated with the Bombay Service Team (BST) of the National Catholic Charismatic Renewal (NCCR) which conducts Jesus Encounter and Healing live in Retreats (JEHR) on every second weekend (Fri to Sun) of the month at Vinalaya, Andheri West. These retreats have become a source of great renewal with testimonies of healing and deliverance ranging from complete deliverance to hard core drug addicts and those addicted to alcohol and smoking to various physical healings to both old and young apart from the many blessings and answered prayers for careers, relationships, etc. Many of our GSPG members have attended a JEHR retreat and been blessed by it and are now active members growing in our Lord as well as drawing others unto HIM. Many such healings, deliverance, blessings and miracles similar to those at the JEHR are witnessed at our GSPG Thursday meetings after 7 pm mass in the church extension and at other events organized by the GSPG.
Over the years GSPG has been instrumental in organizing several outreaches, daylong rallies for both young and old, healing services, training programs and spiritual development seminars covering intercession, word of God, night vigils, lenten mission, etc.
Some of the key highlights of 2017 has been organizing the New Year’s eve holy hour service, the 5 day Lenten Mission, Marian night (to celebrate Mama Mary’s birthday) and as we conclude the year with a Thanksgiving service on 7th Dec and Christmas celebration on 14th Dec we welcome all of you to come and partake in the fellowship and celebration.
Over the years we have had a thriving music ministry, praise and worship ministry, teaching ministry, service and greeting ministry and in 2018 we plan to strengthen these existing ministeries as well as our newly launched visiting ministry and children’s ministry (Lambs of the Good Shepherd) wherein every Thursday after 7 pm mass we will take our 2 to 12 year old’s through skits, action songs, digital media presentations on gospel stories such as David and Goliath, Joseph and the technicolor coat to build up the faith of our little one’s and give them a strong foundation. As we bring in 2018, we welcome each and everyone of you to come and join us on this spiritual journey of living in the fullness of life which Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior came to give us. Peace of Christ to all.
Priest in charge- Fr. Prakash Rumao.
Lay co-ordinator- Bijoy DSilva.
LEGION OF MARY
- The Legion of Mary is an Association of Catholics under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all Graces, have formed themselves into a Legion for service in the warfare which is perpetually waged by the Church against the world and its evil powers.
- The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation under ecclesiastical guidance in Mary’s and the Church’s work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ.
- The Legion of Mary is organized on the model of an army. A member does a minimum two hours of work which is allotted by the President. The member then attends a weekly Praesidium meeting which lasts not longer than one hour and a half, where the member receives the work which is usually done in pairs and also reports on the work done. The only daily prayer for a member is the recitation of the Catena Legionis (as in the Tessera) and to pray the Rosary every day.
- The works undertaken by the Legionaries in our parish are visitation of the homes of both Catholics and people of other faith, visitation of the sick in their homes and in the hospitals, institute visitation like aged homes, homes for the destitute , teaching the domestic, open air contact, promoting the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in homes.
- There are four Praesidia or groups of legionaries in our parish. The Konkani legionaries meet on Mondays at 5.15 pm, English on Tuesdays at 5.15 pm, the Youth on Sundays at 10.00 am and the Juniors on Sundays at 11.00 am
Spiritual Director:- Dn Inacin Fernandes.
Lay co-ordinator- Esmie Fernandes.
SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.
The Society of St.Vincent de Paul (SVP) meets every Tuesday at 7.45.p.m.on the 1st floor of the church extension.
We cater to the marginalized by helping them with ration, medical aid and educational aid upto a certain limit. We have 2 functions along with them during the year:-
1.Feast of St.Vincent de Paul which is celebrated on 27th.Sept.
2.Christmas party. :- At these celebrations we have a prayer service, fellowship, games n we give each family a gift hamper and at times some cash. We visit these families(15)to know their progress. Our motto is to help them fish so we empower those interested in learning tailoring or computers, by paying their fees and also try to give them jobs for those interested in house work. In this way we help them to grow and become independent.
Besides we visit 2 homes annually
1.Old aged home (Kalyan)
2.HIV n Leprosy home(Trombay)
We help these homes in cash and kind for their maintenance. All these activities are possible due to funds from the church and some generous donors. At present we are about 10 members.
Priest in charge:- Fr. Jerome Lobo.
Lay co-ordinator- Kamla Desouza
